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Surrounded by family and friends, prayers of love and peace filled the room. Her husband Kenneth was holding one of Janie's hands and God holding the other. And then ever so gently she was lead home.
Her story of life began early in the day on January 4, 1947 into the loving arms of Rupert Thomas (Dub) and Evelyn Birkholz Newman. And what a wonderful big sister she was to Katie who arrived 18 months later. Exactly ten years, ten days, and ten minutes later Lindy joined the trio of sisters. Wonderful memoirs of making mud cookies with Elm tree seeds which we thought looked like oatmeal. Playing with Boots, our Boston Terrier and Fluffy cat dressed up in doll clothes. Often turning our bed into an imaginary flying covered wagon and our imagination created magic and great fun.
Janie and Katie were inseparable that was until Janie left for school. Most of her elementary years were at Irving Elementary School. She excellent in all of her classes but most memorable was her artistic skills. Miss Rich , the art teacher at Irving said , "Janie is a better artist in the sixth grade than I am now. Her pencil sketch of a dachshund looked like it was running off the page." Janie even won blue ribbons at the county fair.
Her academic accomplishments were evident as a member of the National Honorary Society and graduated from Shawnee High School with honors in 1965. Janie received her Masters from the University of Arizona with an emphasis in reading skills. And that love of helping children grow educationally and personally was evident in how she cared for, encouraged, and guided her students. Teaching first at Franklin School, Jefferson, Will Rogers and finishing her career at Sequoyah school in 1991.
She didn't just care for the children, she was always helping other teachers. She would simply not let one teacher who was too sick to take her rotation for playground duty. Janie did it all week for her. Giving up vacation days so another teach could stay home and recover. There are many stories full of giggles and absolutely times we laughed so hard we cried.
Did you know she has a pilot log book at the age of one? Actually her mom and dad were both pilots"not to be out done. Janie had her pilot's license too. She said she loved to soar among the clouds and tip her wing to dad and mom as she passed over their home.
On November 3 1983 Janie married Kenneth Marshall and they started their amazing 39 year journey together. In the 1980’s he worked at Tinker and Janie was teaching. After their day jobs, the real work began, how to become cattle ranchers. It was all new to them. They dug their heels in and learned everything from birthing a calf, to growing the best alfalfa, to tagging and vaccinations.
Janie loved those cattle and still had the daughter of one of their first three head of Limousine cattle. Often in the quiet of the evening Kenneth and Janie would drive out to the pasture and just marvel at those magnificent animals giving thanks and glory in the quiet moments .
Her other love was here cats, Wilbur and Fuzzy cat. She wrapped them in love and they were there for her whenever she needed them. They make you laugh".when Wilbur drinks water by dipping his paw into a glass then licking his paw. Fuzzy cats purring can be herd across the room. By the way, he likes his water out of the dish under the fern plant.
Her greatest love and friend of all was her husband Kenneth. Together they faced the world with joy in their hearts , prayers of thanksgiving and enjoying moments and memories all throughout the years. The love she gave was and will always be cherished, that love will forever be with him and all of us. You can only have a broken heart if you truly love someone. Now we all must do as Janie did, trust and know it's God's plan.
Often when someone passes, suddenly everyone is says wonderful things about them like never before. This is not the case with Janie. People have ALWAYS said what an amazing, wonderful, courageous, and kind woman she was.
She truly "loved her neighbor as yourself " Always taking care of others and lovingly giving of herself. One friend called her courageous and she was to the end. One friend called her a "classy lady" and she truly always was. One friend has always called her an angel and now......
A visitation for Janie will be held Wednesday, March 15, 2023 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Resthaven Funeral Home, 44909 Highway 3, Shawnee, OK 74801. A funeral service will be held Thursday, March 16, 2023 2:00 PM at Resthaven Funeral Home.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.resthavenfh.com for the Marshall family.